Durian King of Fruits

A delicacy to some, a dread to others. But whatever you think of it, it´s here to stay and its humble influence is to be seen even in flashy architecture. We are of course talking about the king of fruits; the durian.

The durian fruit comes from several tree species, all belonging to the same botanic family. The name “durian” comes from the Malay language word for duri or “spike”, a reference to the numerous spikes on the skin of the fruit. Regarded by many in southeast Asia as the notorious “king of fruits”, the durian is distinctive for its large size, strong odour, and formidable thorn-covered husk. The fruit can be as large as 30 cm long and 15 cm in diameter, and typically weighs about one to three kilograms. Some regard the durian as having a pleasantly sweet smell; others find the aroma overpoweringly unpleasant. The smell is best described as a strong mix of rotten unions and turpentine. Yummy indeed! Therefore duria is understandably banned from many hotels and the subway. 

Cultivation and availability

The durian is native to Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia. Singapore imports 40.000 metric tons every year to secure the demand from durian lovers. It is sold in markets everywhere in Singapore and demand a rather hefty price considering that you only can eat 30 % of the total fruit.